Reversing mechanism



aires,

wrnnraivr I. WHEELEE, 0E sco'rrvinLE, ILLINois.

REVERSING MEGHANISM.

l Specification of Letters Patent.

vrat@naar amy ii, ieee.

Original application filed February 24, 1.920, Serial No. 360,955. Divided. and this application filed.

` August 9, 1920, Serial No. 02,080.- Renewed January 7, 1922. Serial No. 527,763.

To all whom it may concer/n:

Be it lrnown that l, ILLIAM I. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scottville, in the county of Macoupin and State of lllinios, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversing Mechanisms, the same being a division of my pending application, Serial No. 360,955, filed February 2.4L,` 1920, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings'.

This invention relates to certain improvements in.reversing.mechanisms and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use inconnection with aspeed changing mechanismV including a driving 'shaft and a driven shaft operatively connected for unita-ry rotation, and it is an object of the invention to provide a. mechanism of this general character embodying novel and improved means whereby the direction of rotation of thedriven shaft may be reversed when required. l

The invention consistsin the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts of my improved reversing mechanism whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. Y

The novel features of my invention will be hereinafter definitely claimed.V

In order that my invention may be the better understood, will now proceed todescribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation illustrating` a reversing mechanism constructed 1in accordance with an embodiment of my .invention, and 4 Y y Y Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, D `denotes a driving shaft and S a driven shaft in longitudinal alinement with the shaft D. Mounted upon the `shaft D is a casing C of requisite dimensions, said shaft D and casing C being capable of independent relative rotation. One end of the casing C is normally 'open and adapted to Close by a head or plate H.

- ery of the member` 5 is Carried by the head or plate H and preferably integral therewith is a block B in which is produced a plurality of cylinders l preferably equi-distantly spaced in a direction circumferentially of the head or plate H and as particularly disclosed in my pending application Serial. No. 360,955, filed February 2l, 1920, and of which the present application is a division. l l

The central portion of the block B is provided with a cylindrical chamber 3 having `its wall providedwith the longitudinally disposed grooves or channels t. Carried by the driving shaftD and preferably integral therewith isa cylindrical member 5 snugly tting within the chamber 3. The periphprovided with a reverse spiral cam channel l Mounted for rectilinear movement within each of the cylinders lis a piston 7 having operatively engaged therewith the rod 8. The rod 8 is substantially U-shaped in form with the outer leg 8il thereof extending within a groove or channel 4. The free end portion or extremity of said leg` 8Z l is provided with a laterally disposed part` 9 which is seated and rides within the `spiral cam channel 6 so that asthe driving shaft D rotates, the piston 7 will be caused to reciprocate within its cylinder 1. The pistons 7, in the present embodiment` of my invention, are preferably in quarter relation so that the effectiveness of my speed changing mechanism is materially increased. l y

Each of the pistons?, as herein disclosed,

is of ,a hollow type and theclosed end or head thereof is provided with a port 10 with. which coacts a check valve l1, said valve being closed upon the inward `thrust of the `piston 7 and opening upon the outward thrust. Suitably secured to the outer face of the head or plate H is an annular chamber E in communication, as at 12, with each of the cylinders 1. and said communication is undercontrol ofa check valve 14 which is closed upon the outward thrust of the adjacent piston 7 and open upon its inward thrust. l

The chamber E is common to all 0f the cylinders 1 and is also in communication, as at 15, with the casing4 andthe flow through Said connection 1,5 is. under `automatic control, preferably by the mechanism particularly described and illustrated in my pend- 1 ing application filed, lhabruaryV 24, 1920,-Se-

rial No. 360,954. As this particular controlling or governing ymechanism is set forth and claimed in detail in said pending application, it is believed that a detailed illustration and description of the same in the present instance is unnecessary.

Secured to the outer face of a head or plate H isla housing A having its outer closed end or head 16 freely engaged with the driven shaft S. The drive shaft D extends within said housing A and to said portion of the shaft D is fixed a relatively broad gear 17. Meshing with the gear 17 vare the diametrically opposed gears 18.'

Each ofthe gears 18 is fixed .to a shaft 19 rotatably supported by a vcarriage 20, supported by the wall ofthe housing A for sliding movement in a direction longitudinally of the shaft D and the shaft S. The adjacent end of the driven shaft S has affixed thereto a gear 21, preferably of a greater radius than the gear-:17. The gear! Q1 is, in mesh with the gears 22, also fixed to the shaft 19.' By this means,lthe driving shaft D is `operatively engaged with the driven shaft S and 'in a manner whereby the driven shaft S may rotate at varying speeds in accordance with the engine load and which varying speed is under control of the pistons 7 working in the cylinders 1'.`

Each of the carriages 20 is also provided with a relatively broad gear23 constantly in mesh with a gear 18.` When the carriages 20 ,are moved outwardly -to asufficient extent,

the gears 22 disengage from the gear 21 and v the gears .23 mesh therewith resulting in a reverse rotation of the hshaft S. Q11 denotes an actuating mechanism for the carriages 20 and which mechanism may be operated in any desired manner.

In practice the casing or reservoir C, the cylinders 1 and the chamber E are substantially entirely lled vwith oil and the circulation of saidoil is .under control of a valve mechanism. V preferably of the type disv,closed in my co-pending application, .Serial No. 360,954, hereinbefore referred to.

When the driving'shaft D is set in motion, the oil is pumped by the pistons 7 into the chamber E through the ports 12 and as the speed of the shaft D increases, the valve mechanism V is automatically operated under .centrifugal force to close or stopV the circulation of the oil or other fluid mediumand the resistance offered between the pistons 7 and the closed ends of the cylinders 1 drives the casing or reservoir C and the parts carried thereby as a unit with the drivingshaft D and whereby thedriven shaft S iscaused -to operate direct from lthe driving shaft.

As `the load on the engine increases, the resultant reduction in rotation of the casing or reservoir C rand' its concomitant parts will cause the valve mechanism V to open to permit circulation of the mobile medium or oil.

It is to be understood that when the sha-ft S is in reverse, a suitable clutching means, as indicated at 25 is employed to positively hold the Acasing C against rotation.

vVhile l have hereinbefore particularly referred to a particular type of speed changing mechanism, it is to be understood'that l do notlimit my reversing mechanism to the use onlyI in connection therewithl as the same may be employed with equal advantage in connection with other speed changing mechanisms or operative connections between a driving shaft and a driven shaft, and it is also to be understood that the casing C and the housing A can be construed as a single unitto provide a means whereby the housing A maybe fixed to the driving shaft and freely engaged with the driven shaft.

From the foregoing description `it is thought to be obvious that a reversing mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of thev convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and opery ated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason l `do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation 'of .the several parts herein shown in carrying out my Ainvention in practice eX- cept as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: y A

1.1imechanism" of the classfdescribed icc comprising, in combination, a` driving shaft,

a driven shaft, means operatively connecting said shafts, said means including a casing mounted upon'the driving shafts, said casing and the driving shaft .being capable of relative independent rotation, a housing carried by the casing into which the driving `shaft extends, a gear fixed to the portion of the driving `shaft within the housing, the driven shaft also extending within the housing, a gear fixed to saidportion of the driven shaft, Va carriage mounted for sliding movement within the housing in a direction longitudinally of the driving and driven shafts, unitary gears carried by the carriage, one' of said gears being constantly in mesh with` the gear of the driving shaft, a second gear of said unitary gears meshing with the gear of the driven shaft when the carriage is in one position, and a gear carriedby the carriage and constantly in mesh with the first named of the unitary gears, said last named gear meshinglr with the gear of the driven shaft when the carriage is in a second position and whereby the directionl of rotation of the driven shaft is reversed.

2. A mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a driving shaft, a dri-ven shaft, means operatively connecting Said Shafts, Said means including a housing ylil() mounted upon one of the shafts and capable of independent rotation relative thereto, a gear fixed to said shaft Within the housing, the second shaft also extending Within the housing, a gear fixed to said portion of the second shaft, a carriage mounted for sliding movement Within the housing, unitary gears carried by the carriage, one of said gears being constantly in mesh with the gear of the first named shaft, a second gear of said unitary gears meshing With the gear of the second shaft When the carriage is in one position, and a gear carried by the carriage and constantly in mesh With the first named of the unitary gears, said last named gear meshing with the gear of the second shaft When the carriage is in a second position and whereby the direction of rotation of the second shaft is reversed;

3. A mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, tvvo substantally alined shafts, one of said shafts constituting a driving shaft and the second of said shafts constituting a driven shaft, a housing mounted upon both of the shafts, said shafts and housing being capable of independent rotation, means for holding the housing against rotation, a gear carried by one of the shafts, a gear carried by the second shaft, a carriage movably carried by the housing, unitary gears carried by the carriage, one of said gears being constantly in driven connection with the gear of the first named shaft and a second of said unitary gears being in driving connection with the gear of the second shaft When the carriage is in one position, and a gear carried by the carriage and in driven connection With the first named of the unitary gears, said last named gear being in driving connection with the second shaft when said carriage is' in a second position- In testimony whereof I hereunto afX my signature.

WILLIAM I. WHEELER. 

